It's a longstanding tradition in Battle Creek: The annual Christmas parade – a gift to the community by the Harper Creek Optimist Club. Folks line the streets on a Saturday in November (typically the Saturday before Thanksgiving) to watch the procession of...
In her first visit to the BC City Connection podcast, Battle Creek City Manager Amanda Zimmerlin discusses her background, what drew her to Battle Creek and the challenges and successes she sees in the Cereal City. Zimmerlin joined the City of Battle Creek after a...
West Michigan-based business Twinkle Holiday Lighting is again seeking a local veteran to receive a holiday light display installed on their home free of charge. Chuck Barnes, owner of Twinkle Holiday Lighting, returns to Community Matters to encourage nominations of...
In his last periodic legislative update on Community Matters, weeks before the threshold of the Michigan budget deadline (the one that would definitively shut the government down), Rep. Steve Frisbie – Republican from Battle Creek – expressed confidence...
Michigan lawmakers went down to the wire in approving a new budget. In the end, a middle-of-the-night, two-hour shutdown happened – but did not last. Still, a stopgap spending extension kept the government running before the new, $81 billion plan was passed in...
Since 2018, the City of Battle Creek has been selected to receive the Michigan Medicaid CHIP Lead Hazard Control Community Development Grant. Fiscal year 2026 is included. The grant was approved for a total of $1,345,000. In this episode of BC City Connection, Battle...
This week, Republican-led Michigan House of Representatives passed a state budget. Just ahead of that, Rep. Steve Frisbie, (R-Pennfield) joined Community Matters, expressing optimism that budget negotiations would begin in earnest soon. Frisbie called the law...
July 1 has come and gone and MIchigan lawmakers still have not passed a state budget. By law, the budget should be passed by that date, but the law holds no teeth should that not happen. Meanwhile, Michigan public schools are welcoming students back without knowing...
Many school districts – unlike decades of the past – have returned teachers and students to the classroom before Labor Day. Among them, Battle Creek's Pennfield Schools. Superintendent Stephanie Lemmer joins Community Matters grateful for school...
A plan to reimagine Battle Creek fire stations is coming to fruition. In this episode of BC CIty Connection, Battle Creek Fire Department Battalion Chief Cody Titus discusses how the changes will advance firefighting in the city. Newly appointed Battle Creek Chief...